We're being told by an obviously biased mainstream media that
the GOP is in danger of disappearing from the political scene if it
doesn't "move to the center" and adopt the policies of the
Democrats.

Retired General Colin Powell is held up as role model for the
GOP, mostly by the Democrats his views resemble. Powell and a
handful of other GOP moderates claim they want a "bigger tent" and
a "broader based party," but their first move is to advocate
purging the present Republican ranks of social conservatives and
talk show hosts. Republicans should reject their advice.

The GOP has been much worse off. In 1936, after losing four
consecutive elections and having carried only two states in the
presidential contest, they were reduced to 16 seats in the Senate
and 89 in the House. Yet by the end of 1940 they had retaken 22 of
those Senate seats and over a hundred of those in the House.

Much is made of the decrease in numbers of those who identify as
Republicans, but the number of those who call themselves Democrats
has also declined. This can be ascribed partly to the chic and
know-nothing belief that political parties don't really mean much,
combined with the spread of the idiotic practice of encouraging
that via open primaries.

Republican "moderates" once openly called themselves "liberals."
Many were part of the GOP for class reasons. They were Republicans
because someone pointed out to them that the maid was a Democrat.
They were the country club types who avoided issues — all issues.
Two things you shouldn't talk about at a GOP meeting were religion
and politics.

Any functional political party, even Green and Libertarian, is a
coalition. Its first rule is those who hold public or party office
are obliged to support the party's nominees. Conservatives tend to
go along with that, if sometimes grudgingly. Moderates often don't.
They're above it. They are like the wedding guest who blows off the
ceremony and bringing a gift but shows up for the reception to eat
the food and drink the booze, self-absorbed and tacky.

That fits General Powell. He owes the pinnacles of his career to
the GOP coalition headed by both President Bushs. He was seriously
considered for the presidential nomination despite his positions
favoring gun control and abortion and his holding back of Stormin'
Norman from removing Saddam in the First Gulf War. Republicans
treated him well, yet he took a dive on a reasonably centrist John
McCain ostensibly over Sarah Palin's qualifications to be VP,
opting instead for — Joe Biden.

The Republican Party has won its two biggest victories of the
last 30 years when led by coherent, competent conservatives —
Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich. Losses came after forgetting the
fundamental principles of less government and less spending, and
the even more fundamental principle of not stealing. Too many GOP
scandals were a major factor in turning off the voters — twice.

It's the Democrats turn. The electorate is naturally fickle,
which worked well for them twice. They will now be responsible for
all their bad ideas, and we'll find out how well the voters like
those policies when put into practice, many far to the left of
where those voters are now. Others have secondary consequences that
will reduce their current sound and feel good appeal. For the GOP
to adopt any of them is suicidal.

Republicans need to sort the many strains of conservative
thought that makes up the center right into a coherent package
based on limiting the federal government and maximizing individual
freedom, and then adapt that message to modern communications
methodologies. Doing that should return a national majority
relatively soon.